Discovering new plant species in Quang Binh

Scientists have discovered new plant species near the buffer zone of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park.

General morphology of Aristolochia quangbinhensis Do.(Photo: Nghiem Duc Trong / vnmn.ac.vn)

The new species is the Aristolochia quangbinhensis Do , belonging to the genus Aristolochia, the genus Isotrema (family Aristolochiaceae). They were discovered by the scientific group of Vietnam Nature Museum (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) and colleagues under the forest canopy close to the buffer zone of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

According to the website of the Vietnam Museum of Nature, the characteristics of Quang Binh Century Room are elliptical leaf sheets to elliptical oblong; flower cluster stalk 1.5 - 2cm long; radio station bell; Flower sacks do not have colored dots and parallel veins, three-lobed flowers are irregular, the edges of the lobes curl.

Species in the genus Aristolochia are often used in the traditional medicine of Vietnam and China. This is also a group of plants that play an important role in the study of co-evolution of the world.